Fricken Chicken restaurant approved, new name requested

Sunday

Bluffton planning commissioners said yes to a planned chicken restaurant to be built in Bluffton Village.

The unanimous vote at a special called meeting Thursday comes with some conditions - and one non-binding request.

Planning commission member Terry Hannock asked if the current name of the restaurant, Andes Fricken Chicken, could be changed.

"That word 'fricken' is short for only one word," Hannock said. "Is that what we want?"

Project architect Mike Kronimus, with KRA architecture and design, agreed to ask the owner to consider a change.

"I'll bring it back to him," Kronimus said.

Hannock said he knew there was nothing the commission could legally do, but the name is offensive to some.

Included in the approval is an exception to the 35-foot building height requirement.

Original plans for the restaurant called for a building height of 43 feet, with a chimney adding six more feet.

The commission delayed a vote while Kronimus made height adjustments, along with some changes to windows, and adding a dumpster enclosure to plans.

The approved plans are for a three-story structure at 38 feet high to the ridge of the building. The chimney makes the total height 42 feet.

The second story will be office space. The third floor will be storage space with no air conditioning.

The restaurant will serve rotisserie Argentinean style chicken. It will be located on lot 2 in Bluffton Village at Johnston Way and S.C. 46 (Bluffton Road).

Other exceptions approved include a deviation from the minimum depth permitted for Porches/Colonnades/Arcades of 8 feet clear 6 feet and to allow the stucco surfaces to be tabby rather than the fine or medium sand float finish that is permitted.

Conditions in the approval include adding some trees to the landscape plan and including foot candle measurements in the lighting plan.

Commission member Josh Tiller said he was fine with the exceptions.

"I'm personally comfortable with height and either stucco or tabby," Tiller said.